TWO CHARGED OVER £450K EAST BELFAST CANNABIS HAUL

DETECTIVES from the PSNIs Organised Crime Branch have charged a 23 year old man with money laundering and drugs trafficking offences.

He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, 21 March.

The charges relate to an intelligence-led raid on a house in Hollycroft Avenue last month during which police seized £450,000 worth of herbal cannabis.

As is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by the PPS.

A 25 year old female has been released pending a report to the PPS.

As part of a following up operation last month, PSNI detectives carried out a searches at three addresses in the Donegall Pass, Donegall Road in south Belfast and the Short Strand area of east Belfast.

Here officers found more drugs which they believe was linked to a criminal operation.

Cannabis with an estimated street value of £40,000 was recovered during the searches.

Police also recovered a number of items which were taken away for forensic examination.